The Spaniard is now hoping to guide Bayern to similar success and finds Barca, now managed by his former team-mate Luis Enrique, standing in the way of a Champions League final appearance.

But, although he is likely to get a warm welcome, he told a press conference ahead of the first leg of this much-anticipated heavyweight contest: “I am here not as a tribute, but I’m here to do my job, with Bayern Munich to reach the final.

“Barcelona was the most important part in my life. Barcelona was everything, but I’m here to win.”

While the Bayern boss is wary of the threat of three-times world player of the year Lionel Messi, he admitted the Argentina international was “just too good” to be stopped.

He added: “It’s almost impossible to play defensively against Barcelona defence. We have to attack. We need to score in Barcelona.

“There is no defensive system that can stop him. Messi is unstoppable. He is just too good. But we can try (and hope that) he does not come into (possession of) the ball.”